TLV: IC Contact

[sixfeetofdirt]

Careful; I bite.

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[sixfeetofdirt]

"Is he the only one you have? The only one anyone can engage with, anyway."

Some gods are just so distant and disinclined to meddling that they might as well not exist.

[ravenswrath]

"I believe so? There are spirits and beings in the Void that I don't know of, but not gods."

He doesn't seem upset by that fact.

"The Overseers don't talk about anyone else."

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Probably for the best," Astarion says briskly. "The more infighting and rivalry on their plane, the more bloodshed on ours, in my experience. And what exactly is an Overseer?"

[ravenswrath]

"Ah, they're - "

It's difficult to explain a concept in his world when he doesn't have much outside experience.

"- enforcers of the Abbey. Usually, they're mostly harmless, but they fight against the Outsider and his influence in our world."

[sixfeetofdirt]

"On whose behalf?"

'Abbey' suggests religion, but if the Outsider is the only deity going...

[ravenswrath]

He starts walking slowly, deeper into the alley, cautious of the night and the people roaming.

"The Abbey of the Everyman. They believe that the universe is unknowable and most of the forces in it are hostile to man. Including the Outsider. They keep the calendar and the holidays and perform weddings and civil duties normally."

[sixfeetofdirt]

"I see."

Astarion moves alongside him, tread silent.

"In fairness to them, the Outsider's gifts do seem to have made you much more capable when it comes to hostility to your fellow man."

He sounds amused.

[ravenswrath]

"It does depend on the man," he points out. "He set me against the previous recipient of his gift."

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Ah. Well, at least we know he's a splendid judge of character. Are we headed anywhere in particular?"

[ravenswrath]

"Truly," he says, dry as the desert.

At the question, he shakes his head. "No destination, but we're prime targets if we're simply standing around. Unless you were looking for a fight tonight."

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Mm. Not specifically," which is to say he wouldn't mind if one presented itself. "How else have you been keeping busy, these last few days?"

[ravenswrath]

"Drinking helps," he laughs, keeping an eye on the shadows. "Being back in a city is - fulfilling in a way I didn't realize I had missed."

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Oh? I wish I could agree," he says, with a sigh. "This place is...so deeply unlike my own city that it's hard to find it anything more than loud and unpleasant. I much preferred Belisaere."

[ravenswrath]

"I didn't mind Belisaere. That's where I learned the Charter marks for the charms," he explains. "But my own time is somewhere between these two, I think. I do miss the fucking ocean."

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Ah - yes, likewise," Astarion says. "Baldur's Gate grew up around the mouth of a river. It's a cliché, but the water really is the lifeblood of that place."

[ravenswrath]

They continue walking, coming across another alley, seemingly deserted. "I believe that. It was the same in Dunwall and in Karnaca. We - " He pauses, reaching out to Astarion's sleeve to try and pull him back.

He can sense movement on the other side, through the wall. One person pacing on the fire escape, two others on the ground - likely an ambush of some kind. Not for them, but he doesn't think they'll be particular about it if they're startled.

"There are a few friends around that corner," he tells him in a whisper.

[sixfeetofdirt]

Astarion goes still the moment Corvo touches him.

"Then we might as well turn around, I really don't feel like getting involved in someone else's drama tonight," he drawls.

[ravenswrath]

Corvo wants to argue with him, but the impulse to do so comes from his own feeling of being too close, too cramped, too restricted.

He gives a reluctant nod and takes a step back.

"Have you own drama to contend with?" he wonders.

[sixfeetofdirt]

"No, and I'm trying to keep it that way." This won't even last the next twenty-four hours, but he doesn't know that yet! "My warden is incredibly tiresome about these things."

[ravenswrath]

"Mm, you should borrow Richter. He's incredibly permissive."

He doesn't know John very well, but he can't imagine having a warden who asks questions. At least Corvo can successfully shut down on Richter and dismiss all of his concerns.

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Mmm, but if he were my warden I probably couldn't fuck him," Astarion says, thoughtfully.

"...Not that I think that's ever particularly likely, but it's an entertaining way to annoy Trevor."

[ravenswrath]

Corvo wrinkles his nose in disgust.

"Would that be worth it?"

[sixfeetofdirt]

Astarion laughs.

"That really rather depends on how good he is in bed, doesn't it? Anyway, just mentioning it is enough to rile him up."

[ravenswrath]

"You aren't the first person to mention that," he says with a sigh and tries to think of literally anything except his warden. "The amount of fucking on this prison ship is truly extraordinary."

[sixfeetofdirt]

"Extraordinary? Do you think so?" Astarion laughs. "It seems entirely inevitable to me. Why shouldn't we seek out whatever escapes and indulgences our jail can offer?"